check out the above step-by-step directions!
*I tweaked the directions but a HUGE THANKS to Linsdey Powell, TF @ ERHS for creating the first version!
Still A Bit Confused?
What are WEIGHTS ANYWAY?
Let's take a closer look at "WEIGHTs.. I know it probably seems simple to those Math Minds out there but I assure it can be confusing for those of us who live on the right side of our brain ; ) Weights are a way to set %'s for blocks of time or grades so that some count more than others.
A term is a length of time. When you are setting up your grades you first have to tell your grade book how to set up the TERMS. Start with the entire class. Is it year long or semester long? How many TERMS are in your class? Yearlong classes have 2 semesters and 4 quarters. Semester long classes have 2 quarters. Will you have an exam? It's not required.. it up to you how you plan to evaluate mastery of content. Just thinking through this should hopefully make it easier for you to understand. The first step is to use TERM WEIGHTS to build your course and tell PT Pro what % to count EACH TERM.
I know... you might think you've "got this" one. But you might want to take a closer look. There are 4 categories already entered in your grade book. You do not have to use them all - your choice. Imagine that it's like having 4 labeled boxes on your desk. You can place every completed assignment into a chosen box. You might even want one box to count a little more than another box so you give it a higher percent.
Be careful to step back and take a BIG PICTURE look at all of your grades before setting these %'s.
IF you give your TEST Category a weight of 60% (because tests are important - right?) but then you only give 2 tests... that could potentially cause a problem for the student. That would mean that OVER HALF of their grade would be based on their performance / understanding on 2 days! Yikes! I know we all can have a bad day! Additionally... if you toss an activity into a category that you are are not using - (It has 0% - then that grade will NOT count at all. As the teacher you have the ability to set this up however you want - just be careful that the percentages REALLY reflect the mastery of the material over the course of the entire quarter.
The Step-By-Step Directions above should help walk you through the actual set-up. As always, if you need additional help - let me know!
Original Post...
1 - Just click the Power Teacher Pro to move into the Gradebook
2 - Click the ? in the upper right corner to open the HELP resources
3 - Take a QUICK look at the Table of Contents and you should SEE links to most of the questions you might have.
Term Weights
- For Semester Courses change the %’s to be Q1 - 40% / Q2 - 40% / E1 - 20%
- For Year-long Skinnies change the %’s to be Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4/E1 - All are 20%